New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-20
"a vILLANOUS FORGERY"
sTHE LONDON TINES" HESlTATEs ~
PROVE THAT THE LETTER Is GENUINE.


MIR. GOsCHEN AND LORD HARRINGTON
EpINBURGH-MR. LECKY's HISTORY
THE BULwERLYTTON SCANDAL
MR.. HENRY JAMES.
IpY CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE
Copyrtaht; 1887: North American Caoe ne'o' co
IoyDoy April 19-Mr Parnslls denial OF tho
authenticity of the letter published In yesterdays
Times MADE beyond question deep impression
on the House of Commons. The printed testlmohy
of the chief Tory observer is that the House re-
osiyed his statement very cordially. So.u think,
does the English public. Mr. Parnell mas IN lac'.
taken the bodest Of oil possible lines Instead OF
admitting the genuineuess of the signature but de-
nv,pp that It belonged to the letter approving the
murder Of Mr. Burke. ho declares tho signature IT.
self to bs a villanous. barefaced forgery This Is
held here 60 be burning his boats. If The Times
can prove tho signature to be genuine, MT. farnei
has cut of his owu retreat. Accordingly everyDody
looked in The Times" this morning for history
of the letter full account Of the circumstances IN
which il was written how it came into their hands,
who wrote tho body of the letter. and above all the
name of tho person, if not Mr. Egan, to whom 1t
was addressed. Mono Of this testimony Is FORTH
coming.
People were inclined yesterday to believe tho let
ter authentic on apriori grounds, and because !.
was Thought Incredible that The Times" should
-
the means of proving beyond question its genuine
ness. They disbelieve it to-day, because the eyi-
deuca. If il exists, is withheld. "Tho Times"
contents itself with resffirming Its own belief,
saving: "We have in our possession several
uudoubted examples of Mr.. ParuelPs signature,
with which tho letter has heen carefully compared,
and we repeat that in our deliberate Judgment
therc can be no doubt of its genuineness" This
will not do Ii !" The Times" has made charge OF
this gravity against Mr. Parnell on. no better
evidence than the opinion Of experts in handwrit-
Ing. the charge will fall to the ground, Inc
Times" will be discredited. ard Mr. Parneu greatly
siren sthened. No evidence goes for 30 little as
expert evidence about handwriting. English
Judges in late years have repeatedly refused TO DC
influenced m uch less governed. by such evidence.
Nor does the English public, which likes fair play,
side with "The Times" in demanding that Mr. Par
nell should prosecute that journal in order to vndi-
cate bis character The burden of proof Is the other
way. sThe Times" produces the letter, and alleges
that Mr.. Parnell wrote it. Mr.. Parnell denies II.
The next step is for the accuser. If The Times
does nothing now to substantate its accusation the
English will side with Mr. Parnell, little as they
ike the man and prone they are to believe evil OF
tho Irish leader.
Stories have been for some time In circulation
that The Times had got hold of important let
tors. This and Others are reported to have zen
shown in advance to certain members OF the House
of Commons Those now held in reserve are said to
be not less important than the one published.
Large sums were paid for them. The whole subject
say friends of that journal was maturely consid-
cred, aud the END is not yet.
This Parnell Question has overshadowed every
other for the moment Last nights debate and
division were among the most important or recent
years. Yet their place In public interest Is
secondary. The Parnel letter is but one piece OF
evidence ont of many which have lately appeared
In The Times" under the now familiar heading.
wparnsfi1srn and Crims.n After long delay Mr.
Sexton last night In the House undertook TO deal
with portion of this indictment. Mr.. Healy would
have bsen a better man. Less Of An orator than
Mr. sexton, be has far moro effective method oil
handling facts. Mr.. Sexton. however, had the ad
vantage of replying to Major Saunderson's version
of 9The .Timess" statements which was loose
one. Lord Harrington then took up the case In
manner and spirit very different from the orange
mau,s Ills recapitulation of the evidence which
connects the Parnelltes with Messrs. Ford' Egan,
Sheridan and other embers of the extreme party,
was made with all the authority which belongs 10
leader whose sincerity and moderation are always
consmcuo,s This speech has still to be answered.
Mr.. Gladstone, who followed Lord Harrington,
keeps clear of such topics devoting himself chiefly
bill. Perhaps his best point among many telling
ones was that this bill is aimed against the Irish
nation He predicts as a consequence increase, not
diminution Of crime. Mr.. Balfour replied. Mr.
Pa,nell, who had been eagerly waited for by the
crowded House and galleries the whole evening
followed briefly. Then at haf-past in the morn
ing came division. The majority of 101 for the bill
was surprise to both sides, exceeding cacuiatio us
by ten votes.
The visit of Mr. Goschen and Lord Harrington to
EdinburQh was remarkable in many respects, but
for nothing moro than for tho men who assembled
in their honor. Among then were the Earl OF Stair
the Earl of Fife, tho Marquis of Tweeddale, the
Earl of Camperdo wn, Mr.. Finlay, Mr.. Elliot, Mr.
Cowan, Mr. Primrose who is Lord Rosebcry's
uncle-Mr. Thorburn, Principal Cunningham, and
the Earl of Airlie. These men are the flower OF
Scotch Liberalism. Most of them were on Mr..
Gladstone's platforms during tho last Midlothian
campaign. Yet this was q political reception to
two of Mr.. Gladstones chef,opponents.
fThe fifth and sixth volumes of Mr.. Lecky's
history of EngIand in the Eighteenth Century were
published yesterday. The fifth leads OFT with
study of Pitt whict shows Mr. Lecky at his best /;
analytic impartial-or meaning to be impartial
lucid and complete. The twentieth chapter, deal
ing With the French Revolution and its effect on
England ia that which will give rise to most con-
troversy, Mr. Lecky's Wow being even more con-
servative or, 40 French Radicals would say, reac-
tionary, than 81 Taine's. Mr. Lecky has nothing
in common with such blind Tories a. Alison His
view of tho eighteenth century is nineteenth
century view, en ghtened considered and tolerant.
But he describes France after the dissolution of the
first National Assembly 40 presenting to the world
the appalling spectacle of a great nation mainly
governed by ITS criminal classes. The influence Of
the Revolution on English politics is discussed in
modern historical spirit which declines to regard
each nation Is shut out from every other. The same
idea Il further worked out in the sixth volume
which again Is largely occupied with France and
Other Continental Powers The twonty-third